Title : When You're Ready…

Author : Jaggie 107

Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.

Rating : G to PG-13 (Just in case!)

To all the readers/reviewers shown – thanks for the support, and please keep reading! It's nice to see from the reviews given that the 'format' for the story is still working out!

cbw; cool cat; froggy0319; Lisa Brown; ryne'smom; anna7; harmsgirl-03; dana; suz573; Grace; jaggurl; Nikki; Kirsty; kirsten; ss; Arian04; Radiorox; iammusic; JennaTripped; JagFan; starryeyes10; Kavi Leighanna; SarahRabb705; BrokenSkye; NavyCB; SailorGirl; moe; katydid13; serendipity112233; Dreamer20715; jtbwriter; joanoa; FoxyWombat; chawkchic; maidenpride21; r; heartandy112; General Mac; jagaddict; ducktapedmoose; lehcar412; laura carr; bluejay742; dansingwolf; Tina Frank; snugglebug; Jackia; The Fiction Spider; Maria; Lisa; aserene; JAGJenni; martini1988; skyefire; MaritzaCarmicheal; Manda; Brittany4445; Jaka; Dessler; joshklar; KJFlygirl87; LiseGirardi; tb

Apologies for the delay in posting the last three chapters of the story – I've had problems getting access to the episodes, and when I eventually got US, I couldn't get my head around how to bring Harm and Mac together in my story when the episode was so lousy! Same applies to DT, but I think I've done justice to FWAFS, so I'll be posting all three chapters as soon as possible after each other, but I hope you'll still review them all and send your comments!

LiseGirardi – Thanks for your review. I guess by now you know Mattie did wake up in a later episode, which I deal with in my next chapter. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

jtbwriter – Hiya! Thanks for your review, as always. Apologies as above. I hope your interview went well – belated good wishes! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

Aserene – Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

MaritzaCarmichael – Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

cbw – Thanks for your review. Apologies as above. Once I got the episode to work from I really had a problem working with it! As long as I have a keyboard though, I'll keep writing, and I've heard rumors of a TV special in the future (?) so that's something to look forward to as well! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

Radiorox – Thanks for your reviews. I've really got to like Cresswell over this series, and it's almost a shame the series is ending, but I can still keep him 'alive' in stories. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading! PS – Vicpuke and Pukovic – what a team:o)

froggy0319 – Thanks for your lovely review. Makes my day to read such nice words, and although my posting has been a bit erratic (to say the least!) recently, I'm still here, and I'm still writing! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

snugglebug – Thanks for your review. Right back at ya! Haven't been able to send reviews in return, but thinking of you! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

starryeyes10 – Thanks for your review. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

tb - Thanks for your review. I guess by now you'll have seen the final episode. According to interviews on ET, several different endings were made, but I think all HM shippers were satisfied with the ending we got! (I would like to have seen the 'wild' ending, tho':o) – Wouldn't you?) Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

Brittany4445 – Thanks for your lovely review. Apologies as above, but also just to say I'm glad you've enjoyed the story (so far!) and I agree with what you say about skipping through the drivel in the episodes to see if there is anything worth watching. Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

Nikki – Thanks for your review. As per the apologies above, the series is now officially 'over', but there's still hope for your 'scene extensions' as I've already written most of a story following 'The Black Jet', and there's another 200 episodes or more out there that I can work with! Keep the faith – as long as there's an outlet, I can produce stories! Hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!

What could have happened after the end of Unknown Soldier…

JAG Headquarters – Harm's Office

"Hi. You want to share dinner with me tonight?" Mac stood in the open doorway of Harm's office, watching as he signed off on a small stack of files on his desk. Without looking up he shook his head.

"No can do. I need to finish up on these and then head out to Blacksburg."

"Harm?" Mac moved into the room, standing behind the visitor's chair, her hands gripping the top enough to make her knuckles white with the tension she felt.

"Mac…please, not tonight, okay?"

"No, actually, it's not okay…"

At Mac's words Harm raised his head, his eyes settling on hers at the dejected tone in her voice.

"You've got my attention. So what's the problem?"

"The problem is you're not talking to me."

"Mac…"

"We're not going to drag this out here, but we need to talk about what's bothering you, Harm."

"What is bothering me? Aside from the fact that I have a child who hasn't come out of a coma yet, and a partner who won't give me space…"

"You want space, you've got it!" Mac whirled around and stormed out of the office, and then did an about turn and marched right back in. "Before I leave you to your space, you might consider apologizing to Jen at least. Regardless of the case, she didn't deserve your contempt."

Harm sat in silence as Mac finished speaking, and before he could even formulate an answer, or an apology, she was gone again. When he heard the sound of her office door being closed with a determined 'thump' he sighed and dropped his head into his hands. Within a moment though he had got to his feet and walked out of his office, heading out to talk to a certain brunette.

JAG Headquarters – Break Room

"I thought I'd find you in here," Harm murmured, and smiled at Jennifer Coates as she stirred the hot drink she had poured for herself.

"Sir?"

"I would like to apologize, Jen, for my behavior in the conference room."

"I should be the one to apologize. I was out of order, sir."

"How about we settle on we're both a little edgy about Mattie?"

"I can live with that." Jennifer raised her mug in question. "Drink, sir?"

"Not right now, thanks. I need to apologize to the Colonel, too."

"I think, sir, that's going to take a little more…"

"A little more what, Jen?" Harm asked, but his lip was tilting, and Jennifer grinned in response.

"Grovelling, sir."

"Enjoy your drink, Petty Officer," Harm responded, and he heard Jennifer laugh as he left the room and made his way across the bullpen.

JAG Headquarters – Mac's Office

Mac had returned to her own office, closed the door and drew the blinds. Sitting down in one of her own visitors chairs she dropped her head into her hands. By her own admission she knew that Mattie was Harm's primary concern right now, but it didn't mean Harm should retreat behind a wall again and tackle everything on his own. He wasn't alone! He knew that! Mac signed, and raised her head, brushing back her hair as she stared out of the window. All she could see was Harm's face, and the stony silence as she had berated him about Jennifer Coates.

The piece of paper was slipped under her door at the same time as she stood up to walk around her desk. Bending down, she retrieved the note and read the words written on it, in Harm's familiar handwriting. With a hiccup, a sniff and a little smile she opened the door.

"Can I help you, Commander?"

Harm grinned. Although Mac's words were formal, she was smiling, a little.

"Since I've opened my mouth and removed my foot I'm finding it increasingly easier to talk. I've already been to see Jen, and apologized."

"So what are you doing outside my office?"

"Grovelling."

"Grovelling? You?" Mac's smile grew bigger. "Go on, I'm listening…"

"I really do need to take a ride out to Blacksburg tonight, but I'd love it if you would come with me. We could have something to eat when we're done at the hospital."

"Okay. I'll change before we leave."

"Change? Into what?"

"Clothes, Harm. Remember, a Marine is always prepared!"

"Yeah, especially mine…" Harm murmured, and Mac tilted her head, her smile changing ever so slightly.

"Go. I've still got work to do." Pushing Harm back over the threshold of her room, she pointed him in the direction of his office. He walked away, but not before giving her a sly wink. Mac laughed, and backed into her own office.

Harm's Apartment – later

Harm lay on the couch, his head thrown back against the armrest. Mac lay against him, her head pillowed on his chest. While she was asleep, he was still wide awake, eyes open, seeing nothing. In his head, however, his thoughts were careening around crazily. Mattie's condition was relatively unchanged. Her vital signs were all at a satisfactory level, and even the swelling in her brain had subsided, but until she woke up it was impossible to tell what the actual outcome of her accident would be. The hospital staff reported that Tom Johnson had not been to visit his daughter. Neither Harm nor Mac had expected him to, knowing what condition he had been in the last time Harm had seen him out on the street, but the longer the man stayed away the greater were the chances that Harm's petition for custody would be accepted. Pending that decision, Harm could then petition further for Tom's parental rights to be terminated so that he could proceed with adoption. If Tom would relinquish his rights voluntarily it would make the process a whole lot easier, of course, and even then the entire plan rested on Mattie's acceptance also. For all that it had been a simple decision for Harm to make that he wanted Mattie in his life for always, as his child, he still respected her choice and if she chose to stay with Tom he would accept her decision. Somehow, he didn't think it would ever come down to such a choice…but it was still hard waiting to find out.

As though he had finally settled on something valid, Harm smiled, and glanced down at Mac as she slept. Without too much disturbance, he managed to slide himself out from beneath her and then turned to pick her up and carry her through to the bedroom. As they had already stripped down to shorts and t-shirts when they got back to the apartment, it took only a minute or two to settle down. Mac didn't make a sound, and she was still asleep, but it was as though she knew Harm had relaxed enough to sleep too when she snuggled up to him and pressed her lips against his neck. Harm dropped a light kiss on her forehead in response, and then there was silence in the apartment as they both slept.

To be continued…